Moving from principles to action for energy supply that mitigates
against climate change requires a long-term perspective. Energy
infrastructure takes time to build up; new energy technologies take
time to develop. Policy shifts often also need many years to take
effect. In most world regions the transformation from fossil to
renewable energies will require additional investment and higher
supply costs over about twenty years

Turkey’s first Energy [R]evolution report proves that it is possible to protect both economy and climate.

Greenpeace and EREC (European Renewable Energy Council) published the first long-term climate friendly scenario for Turkey. According to the scenario through renewable and energy efficiency, we can both protect the economy and the climate.

2nd of November 2009, Istanbul- Is it possible for an economy to continue to grow while protecting the climate? Greenpeace and EREC’s Turkey Energy [R]evolution report, which is launched today on the brink of Copenhagen Summit answers “yes” to this crucial question. The report draws for the first time in Turkey a scientific roadmap for the future of the country’s energy sector until 2050. According to the report, if Turkey chooses to switch to renewable energy sources and to take strong measures for energy efficiency, the energy costs will be cheaper in the mid-term.

“From greenhouse gases to global oil prices, we took everything in consideration” said Hilal Atıcı Greenpeace Mediterranean Climate and Energy Campaigner: “And we see that there is no such choice between climate and economy. The real choice is if we adopt a longer vision, we can both protect our climate with clean energy technologies, guarantee energy security for our economy and provide cheaper energy to our people”.

The report compares two possible scenarios until 2050. First scenario indicates how the energy sector of Turkey will be shaped if current trends and policies continue. According to this scenario, Turkey’s per capita emissions from the energy sector will double and the electricity prices will increase around 50% between 2005 and 2050. On the other hand, the Energy [R]evolution scenario decreases the per capita emissions to 1,1 ton and after a slight increase in the costs it provides 2 Euro cents of cheaper electricity.

“The Energy [R]evolution is a good deal for the climate. For Turkey the time is now to switch to renewables. Saving the climate is neither a techical nor an economic problem all that is missing is political will,” said Sven Teske, Renewable Energy Director from Greenpeace international and co-author of the report and continued: “The lives of hundreds of millions are on the line, along with the fate of countless species, if the climate crisis is not solved now. Kick starting the Energy [R]evolution is beneficial for the climate, the economy and for the future generations”.

"There are already 450,000 people working in the renewable energy industry in Europe, representing a turnover of more than EUR 45 billion. The Energy[R]evolution report outlines that renewable energy is key to tackling both the climate and economic crises," said Christine Lins, Secretary General of the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC).

Recently, Turkey’s Environment Minister Veysel Eroğlu declared that in UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen, Turkey will commit 11% of decrease from the business as usual scenario. Energy [R]evolution report proves that only in the energy sector, almost 25% decrease from business as usual is technically and economically possible.